Latest Edition of THE INK NEWSPAPER, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

2015: Bishop Akpan consults PDP

2015: Bishop Akpan consults PDP

* Declares intention
* Says party is owing me
* I laboured for Akpabio, Paul Ekpo
BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

Ahead of next month  primaries of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, a governorship aspirant, Bishop Samuel Akpan has officially consulted the party and informed them of his aspiration to contest for the governorship position come November, 29.

The consultation took place at the PDP State secretariat at four lanes, Uyo, the State capital, last week Friday.

Addressing the State working committee and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bishop Akpan said his visit was to consult the party and officially informed them of his ambition to govern the State come 2015.

The governorship hopeful who is a former state deputy chairman of PDP, maintained that he has worked and dedicated his life and moment for the party to succeed in Akwa Ibom State, adding that it is now the time for the party to reward him by supporting and giving him the governorship ticket come next month during the PDP primaries. “I have paid my dues, I have been a labourer of the party, I have also worked and served the party for it to succeed in the State. So the party owes me”.

Bishop Samuel Akpan further noted that if elected into office as the next governor come 2015, he will restore the dignity of the party and will also ensure that the party remains a force in his administration even as he pleaded for support from the party.

Akpan, noted that he is not asking the party to write his name, but to deliver him at the polls, adding that he is the popular choice of the people of Akwa Ibom State for the position of governorship.
He stressed on the need for the party to support him, having served it in several positions since its beginning in the State, while promising to empower the people and ensuring that his government totally eradicates unemployment in the State.

He disclosed that he won the senatorial election in 2011 to represent the people of Eket Senatorial District, but was persuaded by Governor Godswill Akpabio as well as the party to step down for Senator Helen Esuene in order to secure the women slot which he did.

According to him, “I stepped down for Helen Esuene because the party promised to give me the governorship slot, so that is why I am pleading with the party to keep to the promise”.

The Bishop of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star who recalled that he was the presiding officer of PDP who delivered Godswill Akpabio in 2006 and in 2011 when he was the State collation officer for the party, said he was denied everything in government by the governor. “I did not betray Akpabio, I was honest and sincere to him (Akpabio), but I have been denied of everything in this administration. I was so active in placing 31 council chairmen in 2008 during the Local Government election including 329 councillors as well as the appointment of commissioners which Paul Ekpo was a beneficiary”. Akpan maintained.

He noted that he is the most qualified for the job and thanked the leadership of PDP in the State for their wisdom to zone the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District.

Welcoming the governorship hopeful to the party secretariat, the State chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo said the party will do everything possible to ensure a level playing ground for all the aspirants during the party’s primaries. Describing Bishop Samuel Akpan as a great grassroots mobilizer for the party during his time in the party executive, Obong Paul Ekpo commended him on his peaceful campaign in the State and promised the party’s support for his aspiration.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Bishop Akpan took his consultation team to the Ibom Museum Park, Udo Udoma Avenue which happened to be the venue for South-South solidarity rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term declaration, organised by Jonathan Mandate Group (JOMAG), where he formally declared his intention to contest for the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State. Highpoint of the event was the adoption of Bishop Samuel Akpan for the position of governor of Akwa Ibom State by the Jonathan Mandate Group (JOMAG).

Akpabio gets more desperate * Victimizes Essien Udim PDP chair, imposes Village headship on Sunny Ibanga

*Ikot Ekpene PDP Chairman kick, petitions NWC,   says I am still Chairman of Chapter Chairmen     

      
Signs that the Governor Godswill Akpabio had perfected and now executing victimization against those he feel are not in support of his plans to foist his preferred candidate on the people ahead of the November 29th PDP primaries has continued to unfold with the recent suspension of the PDP Chapter Chairman for Essien Udim Local Government Area and the foisting of a village headship of Utu Ikot Ekpenyong on the Chapter Chairman of the Ikot Ekpene PDP.

It could be recalled that the Essien Udim Chapter Chairman of the PDP had come under the fire of the Akpabio flames when he made revelations that the attack on Helen Esuene at Essien Udim was sponsored by the Akpabios. Without setting up a committee to investigate the chapter Chairman and his claims, the Governor acting on the advice of some of his cronies is said to have swing into action and then slam a suspension on the Chapter Chairman Elder Friday Udo.

2015 Guber: I can’t step down for anybody – Ntekim insists

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the immediate past Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice in Akwa Ibom State, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, has said that he is not under pressure to step down for any of the governorship aspirants, adding that his aspiration is still very alive.

Ntekim aspired to contest the PDP primaries alongside 18 aspirants who have so far picked nomination forms and declared their interest in the party’s ticket.

Briefing newsmen at his campaign office at 51 F-line, Ewet Housing Estate Uyo, last week, Ntekim said: “I can’t step down for anybody and I am not being sponsored by anybody or group to contest this election. I will run the primaries and I will win squarely and clean as well as the general election”.

Ibibio elders slam Akpabio * Decry deceitful politics

Some Ibibio Elders have protested against the style of politicking of Governor Godswill Akpabio describing it as deceitful and shameful even as they made statements pointing to the facts that the state Governor is taking the Ibibios for a ride to a point that a former Secretary to State Government and ex minister, Obong Rita Akpan declared that in this administration, the Ibibios are suffering and will not take that again.

Ibibio Elders comprising of the political leader of Uyo, Obong Maurice Ebong, Secretary of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibiobio and a former House of Assembly member for Uyo state constituency, Barr Aniedi Ndem, Obong Cyril Ekiko, Elder Enefiok Ekefre amongst others. They said during the consultation visit of a governorship hopeful to Uyo Elders Pastor Ita Udoh that the Governor had earlier introduced Obong Umana Okon Umana to them as someone who will succeed him and maintained also that ever since then, the state Chief Executive was yet to make a change of his mind known to them.

Guber 2015: Esuene enjoys massive support, gains upper hand

Judging by the massive support Senator Helen Esuene is amassing across the State, prelude to P.D.P gubernatorial primary on Saturday November 29, 2014, Akwa Ibom State may soon make history as the first State in Nigeria to produce the first woman elected governor.

The distinguished Senator on Wednesday received massive endorsement from the people of Etinan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Ibom and Nsit Atai Local Government Areas during a continuation of her State-wide consultation exercise, after having been adopted by the people of Mbo, Udung-UKo, Oron, Esit Eket, Ibeno, Obot Akara and Ikot Ekpene Local Government Areas.

Her visit to the people of Etinan was turned into a carnival as traditional dances and Okada riders welcomed her at Ekpen Ukpa with jubilation, describing her as a woman who has broken the jinks of male domination in politics.

National Council on health meeting holds in Uyo

BY NSEOBONG DAVID

The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health  holds the 57th National Council on Health Meeting from 26th to 31st of October 2014 in Uyo.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. EmemAbasi Bassey made this known during a press briefing last week in Uyo.  The weeklong event which is ongoing at Ibom Hall, is said to be the oldest council meeting in the country since the colonial era and will bring health personnel from the 36 states of the Federation including the FCT to Akwa Ibom State.

2015: Oruk Anam PDP pledges support to Eshiet Offiong — As Stakeholders Harp On Equity, fairness

The members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oruk Anam Local Government Area have expressed their readiness to work towards the actualization of the National Assembly ambition of Deacon Eshiet Offiong in 2015. The chapter Chairman of the party, Pastor Cletus Eshiet dropped the hint on Wednesday when Deacon Offiong consulted the party at Ikot Ibritam.

The Party Chairman who was represented by Prince Ukandie Ukpe advised the teeming supporters to work hard for the victory of the aspirant whom he described as “a marketable product” that deserves the unflinching support of the people of the federal constituency. Prince Ukpe advised Deacon Offiong to remember the people when he gets to the House of Representatives in 2015.

The Director–General of Emancipation 2015 Campaign Organization, Rt Hon (Dr) Louis Iyiet who is a former member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly urged the people to join the winning team as no one wants to be identified with failure, describing failure as an orphan. Hon Iyiet explained that an egg that would be hatched into a cock is known the day that it is laid, pointing out that the aspirant is humble, approachable and down - to - earth. He described Deacon Offiong as an aspirant with massive appeal who would not let the people down even as he would provide effective representation for the good people of the federal constituency.

Akpabio joins Senate race

Governor Godswill Akpabio has heeded to the clarion calls by the people of  Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District to contest for the senatorial seat in 2015 under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akpabio, who stated this Wednesday at Ukana in Essien Udim LGA when the youths of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District presented him with PDP Senatorial nomination form for the forthcoming PDP  primaries at a reception organized by Esop Mbong Ikpaisong Afud Annang said “I have been under pressure by the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to represent them as a Senator in 2015. I want  to say that I have accepted the call to serve my people”.

Prince Nsikak Okon: The Senator Uyo Senatorial District needs BY SIGNOR EMEDU

As the people of Uyo Senatorial District prepare to elect who represents them at the Senate from 2015, a wind of change is moving through the political landscape of this zone.

 In spite of the last election foisting on the people a representation that will run out its phase next year, natives of Uyo Senatorial District are adamant that it is high time their voices and votes during electioneering period be rewarded with human capacity development. To them, gone is the apathetic outlook: next year’s election is being redefined by the fact that candidates are faced with a more web savvy, politically active generation than that which saw them give their votes and lend their voices to a career politician who though choral in his representation, seems to have forgotten about the development of the people back home.

OBA at 42: Service to humanity BY AMOS ETUK

“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to  your life” – Proverbs 9:11.

Celebrating great leaders has always been a befitting task as leadership inspires motivation in others to move towards a desirable vision.

When God sets criteria for leadership, there are indispensable qualities that make the new shepherd outstanding as the people believe in his exemplary leadership strides to meet the set targets of a vision.

2015 guber: We will look at you, Uyo tells Ita Udoh

Pastor Ita Umo Udoh had been given assurance by stakeholders and the political leadership of Uyo Local Government Area. During a consultation visit to Obong Maurice Ebong and others, Pastor Ita Umo Udoh who stormed the residence of the Uyo political leaders with a mammoth crowd of supporters informed that he had resigned his position from the state Exco as a commissioner. He told the Elders of Uyo that he is interested in the race to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio because he wants to take Akwa Ibom State to another level from where the Governor Godswill Akpabio will end by 2015. 

He said, “My Elders and political leaders, I come to you today because I need your support to help me consolidate on the gains of the democracy of the present administration, I want to appeal to you to please see me as your son and adopt me for the position of the governorship of our great state which will be vacant by May 29 2015.  Let me inform you that I am ably qualified to step into that office and I am using this opportunity to solicit your support and cooperation. And I am assuring you that. I will not disappoint. I have heard that perhaps you have adopted an aspirant, please see me as an option and together we will make Akwa Ibom Proud”.